"That's still conventional for ground combat for us, yes. They might be different types of guns, but you can only improve so much on automatic weapons," Mikumo says, somewhat dryly. There were, at one point, moves towards drones and other automated systems, but after one particular disaster involving them highlighted how easy it was for them to be hijacked and turned against anyone, that path had been given up on and never picked up again.

"So if you were hoping for laser pistols, I'm afraid I can't help you there."